Sihanoukville is situated on a peninsula of the Gulf of Thailand , on the coast near the border to
Vietnam . The town is a principal deepwater port of southern Cambodia .

The history of Sihanoukville goes back only as far as 1955 when the area wasknown as
Kampong Som.

In August of that year, a French/Cambodian construction team cut a base
camp into the jungle where the Hawaii Sea view Restaurant now sits.
They laid the groundwork for the construction of the new
Port of Kampong Som.
Prior to their arrival the entire area was unoccupied jungle.
Prior to 1954 Cambodia maintained international sea trade trough the
Phnom Penh via the Mekong . But the end of Indochina meant the Mekong
Delta reverted to the control of Vietnam .

Seeking unfettered access to the ocean, the government decided to construct a deep-water ocean
port. Kampong Som was selected over Ream and Koh Kong because of water depth and ease
of access.

Construction of the port was completed between 1955 and 1960.
The port was first opened to ocean traffic in 1956.
The town itself began as housing and offices for workers just south of the port. Upon completion
of the port, the town was renamed Sihanoukville in honour of the King.

Sihanoukville heyday came in the 1960s. The commercial success of the port led to a flurry of new
construction, including the Independence Hotel. A second phase of port construction began in
1965, but all construction was halted after the coup of 1970.

Sihanoukville also entered the history of the American/Vietnam conflict when, during the late
1960's and early 70's, it served as a transit point for weapons bound for anti-American forces in
Vietnam .
The town met relatively little action during Cambodia 's conflicts.

In 1992 and 93, Sihanoukville played host to Australian, French and Belgian contingents of
UNTAC. In 1994/95 international corporations such as Ariston Sdn Bhd, YSL Corp. and Sokimex
began investing in the development of Sihanoukville tourist facilities, though major construction
has not yet begun.